Eisenkot's Nominee Defends Creators of Controversial Anti-Israel Film

A political storm erupted in Israel after it was revealed that Eliran Eliya, a candidate on MK Gadi Eisenkot's Knesset list and chairman of the Directors Guild, defended the creators of the film "Nez'a." The documentary, a British production by Israeli directors Yuval Avraham and Rachel Shore, recently won an international jury prize at the Venice Film Festival. The film reportedly depicts the systems behind the "extensive killing" of Palestinian civilians in Gaza by Israel during the Swords of Iron War, featuring Israeli testimonies alleging intentional and systematic mass killing stemming from the dehumanization of Palestinians.

The Likud party criticized the situation, stating that "Nez'a" and another film, "No Other Land," are designed to slander IDF soldiers, falsely accuse them, and portray them as war criminals. The party asserted that Eliya's inclusion on Eisenkot's list demonstrates that the list comprises not only left-wing individuals but also the "extreme and delusional left."

The Directors Guild, led by Eliya, issued a statement supporting Avraham and Shore following their film's award, mirroring their support for "No Other Land" a year and a half prior. The Likud views this as further evidence of a pattern of supporting content that they believe is detrimental to Israel's image and its soldiers.